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| Highlights |
Andrew
Gaudreau
Research Training Program, 2004
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Introduction Rastafari is a social, political, and religious movement which originated in Jamaica in the early 20th century. It is a response to the legacy of slavery and cultural marginalization and the oppression of Blacks under European colonialism. Rastafari is inherently a resistance movement which espouses social equality and justice, as well as an emphasis on repatriation to Ethiopia/Africa. During the last three decades, the Rastafari movement has gained considerable momentum and membership across the African Diaspora and on the African continent. It has become “transnational,” transcending barriers such as race, language, nationality, ethnicity, and gender. This globalization has been facilitated by certain key factors: the philosophy of Pan-Africanism, the popularization of reggae music (particularly through the impact of Bob Marley), increased travel by Rastafari Elders, the accelerated networking of Rastafari communities throughout the world, and a political climate in the African Diaspora that has supported reparations and repatriation. This project has examined a number of processes of Rastafari globalization in preparation for a forthcoming exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History entitled “Discovering Rastafari.”
By working with these and other materials, I learned that Rastafari was uniquely transnational from its inception, being a response to specific global events (i.e. the coronation of Haile Selassie and the Italian invasion of Ethiopia) and ideologies (i.e. Pan-Africanism, Ethiopianism, Garveyism) which shaped the core of Rastafari thought.
1896 - Battle of Adwa - Menelik I repels Italian invasion; Ethiopia remains the only African nation not under the yoke of colonialism. Acquires the symbolic status of an African “Zion” for many Diasporic Blacks. 1930 - Coronation of Haile Selassie I - Ras Tafari Makonnen ascends to the Throne of David and takes the titles reserved in Scripture for the second coming of Christ (King of Kings, Lords of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah); proclaimed the Living Messiah by various preachers in Jamaica who adopt the name “Ras Tafari.” 1935 - Mussolini invades Ethiopia - Members of the nascent Rastafari movement liken the invasion to the Armageddeon battle described in the Book of Revelation; Haile Selassie addresses the League of Nations (July 1936) stating, “Strike a match in Ethiopia, and all Europe will burn.” 1952 - Mau Mau Revolt in Kenya - Movement which originated among the Kikuyu people; led to the successful ousting of British control in Kenya and victory for African autonomy. Mau Mau resistance provides an inspiration for Rastafari opposition to colonialism. The Mau Mau practice of wearing dreadlocks becomes adopted by Rastafari in Jamaica during the 1950s. 1955 - Selassie provides land grant (Shashemane) to “Blacks in the West” who desire to repatriate to Ethiopia. 1961 - Jamaican government sends a technical mission to five African nations, including Ethiopia, to explore possibilities for repatriation. Three Rastafari travel as part of the formal mission. 1966 - Selassie’s Visit to Jamaica - Prophetic event for Rastafari; confirmed Selassie’s status as a Messianic figure and reinspired the Rastafari emphasis on repatriation to Africa. Selassie presents gold medals to thirteen Rastafari leaders. Early 1970s - Rastafari-inspired reggae music goes international. Bob Marley becomes the first Third World music superstar. 1979 - Bob Marley visits Ethiopia and the Rastafari land grant community in Shashemane. 1980 - Rastafari in Trinidad and the Eastern Caribbean begin publication of “Rastafari Speaks,” the first international Rastafari newspaper. 1981 - The first international Rastafari conference is held in Toronto, Canada, drawing delegates from throughout the Caribbean, North America, and Europe. 1984-1989 - Several formal delegations of Rastafari Elders travel to Canada, England, and the United States. 1992 - Rastafari celebrate the centenary of Emperor Haile Selassie’s birthday; event is marked by pilgrimages to Ethiopia that renew connections with the Shashemane land grant community. 2002
- First
Hispanic Rastafari gathering is held in Puerto Rico.
Ethiopianism - The redemptive significance attached to Ethiopia by peoples of African descent based on its frequent mention in the Bible (“Princes will come out of Egypt; Ethiopians shall soon stretch forth their hands unto God” [Psalms 68: 31]). Pan-Africanism - The concept that peoples of African descent share a common identity and destiny irrespective of where they are domiciled; also presumes resistance to Eurocentric cultural standards. Holistic
Health and “Livity”
- Emphasis on a vegetarian diet and treatment of the body as “the
Temple of Jah.”
After the completion
of this project, I would like to continue my investigation of transnationalism
while studying in Angers, France for the 2004-2005 academic year. In
particular, I hope to examine transnational culture and migration with
regard to the Francophone Caribbean (with special emphasis on Haiti),
and draw comparisons based on the Rastafari example.
I would sincerely like to thank Dr. Jake Homiak as well as Becky Malinsky, Mark White, and those individuals in the Department of Anthropology at the Museum Support Center who made this work possible. This project was supported by the University of Notre Dame National Museum of Natural History Internship Program in Anthropology, 2004. Want to ask a question? Visit the Message Board Virtual
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